In this review, we will be comparing A135C and S 81 CEN, two Passive Center Channel speakers from JBL and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A135C and Jamo S 81 CEN first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Stage A135C Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter
- 6 x 3" polycellulose Woofer
- 75-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-150watts
- Weight:7.46kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 105.0" x 29-3/8" x 7-5/16"( 105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm )
Jamo S 81 CEN Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer
- 71-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 60watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 186.0" x 17-1/8" x 8-11/16"( 186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm )
What size room are the JBL Stage A135C and Jamo S 81 CEN speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
JBL Stage A135C |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage A135C and Jamo S 81 CEN compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both A135C and S 81 CEN are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A135C |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
A135C features a 1" aluminum dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter and 6 x 3" polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the S 81 CEN features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
A135C has a frequency range of 75-40k Hz whereas S 81 CEN has a frequency range of 71-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 71Hz, the S 81 CEN can go slightly deeper then the A135C's min frequency of 75Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
A135C is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 81 CEN which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A135C sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the S 81 CEN's is rated at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A135C a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 81 CEN, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
A135C can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 81 CEN has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 90 watts less than the A135C.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
A135C features Binding post type posts and S 81 CEN has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 81 CEN's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A135C has a side firing port whereas S 81 CEN has a rear firing ports.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL Stage A135C's and Jamo S 81 CEN's external dimensions. JBL Stage A135C has external dimensions of 105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm ( 4-1/8 x 29-3/8 x 7-5/16inch) whereas Jamo S 81 CEN has external dimensions of 186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm ( 7-5/16 x 17-1/8 x 8-11/16inch) .
JBL Stage A135C is 81mm shorter and 35mm less deeper than Jamo S 81 CEN but it is also 312mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the JBL Stage A135C is approximately 1389.4cm2 / 215.4inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 81 CEN is approximately 961.4cm2 / 149.0inch2. The A135C requires 45% more surface area than the S 81 CEN which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.